asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of Schemes submitted to him by local authorities in response to the Taoiseach's request, the number of schemes sanctioned in respect of each local authority, and the estimated cost of the schemes sanctioned to (a) the State and (b) the local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Schemes Submitted by Local Authorities.
59.
Replies have been received from virtually all local authorities in response to the invitations issued by the Taoiseah and the Minister for Local Government for suggestions relating to State investment in public projects of economic merit. Proposals received up to the beginning of October, 1959—numbering about 150—have been examined and replies have been issued to the local authorities concerned. Proposals received subsequently—numbering several hundreds—are still under examination. These figures include proposals of a minor nature and also general suggestions submitted by more than one local authority.
None of the proposals has so far been sanctioned. A substantial proportion does not satisfy the criterion that capital expenditure productive of competitive goods and services must receive a greater priority than formerly in the public capital programme. Some relate to schemes which either had previously been rejected or were already under consideration by the Departments concerned. In other cases a final decision cannot be given until more extensive investigations have been completed or further information has been received.
Some of the proposals, while not of an economic character, are of a type for which substantial State assistance is already available.
Is the net position not a mass make-believe? The local authorities have been fooled up to the neck.
It is a Lemass make-believe.
Order. Question No. 60.
Do not deny yourselves credit for it.
Are we to understand that the brains of all the local authorities in the country could not put up one scheme which would be sanctioned by the Minister?
They might be sanctioned.
When will any scheme be sanctioned? When will the goose lay the golden egg?
Never. No goose would lay any eggs. The goose has gone on strike.
Seán Citizen is the goose.
100,000 jobs.
Political faith.